The 32nd conference of the International Society of Orthomolecular
Medicine will welcome the public to the Royal York, Concert Hall on April
11, 2003 – 7 P.M. for progress reports. Keynote speaker. Selections from
the film Masks of Madness: Science of Healing with Margot Kidder. www.orthomed.org
Ten FOR•OM friends of the Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation shared success
stories at ISOM 30 and 31, in Toronto and Vancouver. Abram Hoffer received
awards of excellence for leadership developing orthomolecular medicine and
helping patients recover their destinies. Standing ovations came from patients
and families.
In the 1950’s, psychiatrist Abram Hoffer wondered how schizophrenic patients
could restore normal brain function. Teaming up with Dr. H. Osmond, they
researched the biochemistry of schizophrenia, developed an adrenochrome hypothesis
and proposed a restorative treatment using an optimum dose of natural molecules.
To test their theories, the doctors did the first double blind experiments
in psychiatry, using vitamin B3 (niacin) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid).Patients
recovered and went back to work! Conventional psychiatrists remained skeptical
and their patients stayed at home.
For over 50 years, Dr. Hoffer continued his life’s work developing the Ortho-M
principle of orthomolecular medicine by applying the life science of biochemistry
to the art of medicine. He and his colleagues learned to treat a range of
illnesses by prescribing natural molecules in therapeutic doses: biochemicals
like vital amines, trace minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, energy
and enzyme co-factors.
Dr. Hoffer’s 1998 book
Vitamin B3 & Schizophrenia: Discovery, Recovery, Controversy
explains his research and success treating schizophrenia with daily divided
doses: typically 3,000 mg of vitamin B3 plus 3,000 mg of vitamin C. (The
lethal dose of vitamin B3 is 300,000 mg. Vitamin C is not lethal.) One of
his earlier books,
Smart Nutrients, offers help for dementia.
Finding Care For Depression, Mental Episodes & Brain Disorders tells
How Orthomolecular Medicine Can Help.
Over millennia, nature adapted the human body to survive and thrive. People
forget about the molecules of life, taking their biochemistries for granted
until they get sick. Depressed people hope to recover quickly by using prescription
drugs; there are many life-saving medications including antidepressants and
stabilizers for blue moods, dysthymia and bipolar disorders.
Since vitamins are part of a nutritious diet, few psychiatrists prescribe
them. Family doctors know about supplements; they use the Ortho-M principle
to treat biochemical disorders. e.g. type 1 diabetics can stabilize their
blood sugar levels by taking daily insulin supplements, eating low-sugar
diets and exercising regularly.
Orthomolecular psychiatrists like Dr. Abram Hoffer prescribe vitamins
and nutrients with modest doses of prescription drugs. Their patients have
fewer problems with negative side effects than patients who take high doses
of powerful psychiatric medications. Individual patients respond to therapeutic
molecules differently depending on their biochemistries, diagnoses, histories,
metabolisms and genetics. Some patients benefit by improving their diets,
eliminating food allergens and reducing environmental sensitivities. Restorative
medicine in action.
Dr. Hoffer helps patients cope with mental disorders like schizophrenia,
depression, anxiety, bipolar manicdepression, attention deficit and autism.
His restorative methods renew hope. With their destinies restored, his orthomolecular patients
can live well. FOR•OM Friends of Restorative Orthomolecular Medicine may
not understand biochemistry as well as Dr. Hoffer, but we appreciate his
Ortho-M principle – beautiful treatments for beautiful minds. The right molecules
for living well!
